CAPE TOWN, South Africa – July 12 was day 474 of pandemic lockdown in South Africa. The country has gone through 10 phases of lockdown as infections rose or fell since 26 March 2020. South Africa is currently in another Alert Level 4 (first experienced in May 2020) as infections driven by the new delta-variant spread rapidly through communities in urban and metropole districts.
COVID-19 cases – Image credit: Shaze – CC BY-SA 4.0
As of today, 13,937,470 tests have been conducted across the country. 2,206,781 people have tested positive for COVD-19. 1,943,513 people have recovered from infection, an 88.1% recovery rate. 64,509 people have died. There are 11,182 new cases and the quickly increasing rate of infection is an indication of the danger of the delta-variant. The rate of infection during this third wave is three times that of the second wave between December 2020 and February 2021.
2021, an election year, has been a troubling one for all South Africans. Lockdowns have brought the economy to a virtual standstill. Small, medium and micro-businesses, especially those in the tourism, entertainment and restaurant sectors, struggle to survive.
Since Sunday, violent protests and rampant looting in two provinces, Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng, incited by supporters of former President Jacob Zuma following his arrest and imprisonment for contempt of court. The violent unrest left small businesses, supermarkets and shopping malls ransacked and deserted, and transport delivery trucks in several provinces in smouldering ruin. President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned the country may face food insecurity in the coming months.
In a near perfect storm of a high unemployment rate especially amongst the youth, civil unrest and unrestrained pandemic, I asked three South African Pagans to share their experiences of lockdown, the pandemic, and how these have affected them and their families.
Caron is a resident of Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, and a Witch, with a bachelor’s degree in archaeology and psychology, and an NQF6 certificate in human resources management. In 2020 Caron says paid work as an external consultant dried up completely due to lockdown. Social Services also stopped her disability grant in December 2020.
“I developed Crohn’s disease at the age of 23 which ended my hopes of a career in field archaeology. I worked in several HR positions but had to stop full-time employment when my illness got severe enough to require surgery.”
Caron says the loss of income and grant left her depressed.
“I consumed huge amounts of sleeping pills and hid from the world. But then I met my soulmate. His support has pulled me out of the hole. Now I deal with stress by listening to music, indulging my creativity and curiosity. It is vitally important now more than ever to do things that bring you the simple joys in life. Caw at the crow. Hug a tree. Love the people close to you. Music, dance, cookies.”
Caron has managed to avoid contracting COVID-19, but she has been personally affected by the pandemic.
“My cousin has had Covid. He is a policeman and was infected in the course of his work. He survived and was only off work for his quarantine period.”
She is also looking forward to being vaccinated, although her underlying morbidities cause her some hesitation.
“Absolutely yes. I am doing so as soon as I possibly can. Due to my poor immune system, if I get Covid without some sort of immunity, it will kill me. Any hope I have of returning to a normal life requires my immunity and the immunity of those around me.”
I asked Caron what the most important lesson was she had learned since lockdown started.
“The most important thing I’ve learned is that I do want to live. I’ve learned that I can turn my gifts and learning into something capable of supporting my hubby and me. He lost his job to Covid lockdown too.”
When I asked what would she say to others facing similar challenges, Caron encouraged people to trust.
“Trust in yourselves and your abilities. Take joy in life and know that the gods live within you. You’re an integral part of the tapestry, never forget that. You matter. You are worthy of your own love and happiness.”
World Health Organization map of cases July 14, 2021.
Gen is a resident of Johannesburg, Gauteng, a single mother and co-parent with her own mother to her daughter, and a Witch. Gen is dependent on a disability grant since the onset of epilepsy and lupus at the age of 23.
“Financially covid has drained us,” she said. “We were once a giving family and able to help people in need. Now we have to assess where and how we can help ourselves survive.”
The challenges of illness, lockdown, loss of income and the pandemic has been a struggle for her and her family.
“Mentally this has caused us much strife. Working members of our family had salary decreases which in turn affected our medical bills getting paid and thus the wheel started spinning out. Deciding which family members get to take medication on certain days has been harrowing. But, unlike many fellow South Africans who had nothing after being abruptly paid off, we could still survive on what we had saved. It’s been a constant ethical and moral tug and pull.”
All three members of her family have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently in recovery. Asked her how she managed to cope with the stress she said, “Breathing, a lot of deep breathing in situations that do need attention. The overwhelming moments often just need a very heavy sigh rather than heated words. It is really alright to step back, breath in and out. Take a look at things twice.”
Would she be immunised?
“100% yes, I will get vaccinated. Science was magick at some point?!”
Gen offers encouragement from her experiences since March 2020.
“The kindness of strangers, never discount that. Appreciate moments, they can be gone in an instant. Stand in your truth. No one is above or below you and Covid has proved this. If you can be the stranger to provide unexpected kindness, just breathe and try it.”
Ambulance used to respond to covid-19 suspected cases and place them in isolation hospitals and quarantine – Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa – Image credit: Khethukuthula Mbonambi – CC BY-SA 4.0
Bianca is a resident of Johannesburg and identifies as a Pantheist. She has a cum-laude post-graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) as an English FET and Life Orientation SP educator, and a cum laude honours degree in Social Science, specializing in Psychology. She is currently looking for work as a teacher.
“When we went into lockdown in March 2020, I had just moved out of my rental and back to my parents’ home. I haven’t lived with them since 2017 and the emotional intensity was high. Other than the living stresses of isolation, we have been fortunate that our livelihoods have continued. I have found it difficult to look for work, but I am still privileged that there are jobs in my field to apply for.”
How had she and her family been affected by the pandemic?
“In May, my mom was diagnosed with COVID while she was in hospital. She was sent home because her symptoms were mild, and they could not operate while she was positive. My dad then developed COVID, which he most likely caught from my mom. None of us isolated, because of the way our home functions, and so even though I didn’t get tested I am sure I must have been positive and asymptomatic. Both of my parents were placed on a regimen on medication, including Ivermectin which was prescribed by our family doctor. About a week before my mom was admitted to Hospital, my dad went for his first shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine. He was in bed for about 5 days, struggled to breathe and came close to needing to be placed on a ventilator. He recovered on his own which took about 2 weeks. We are all well now.”
How had the lockdowns affected their income and livelihoods?
“My dad’s business was affected. He is busy starting another business. My mom was fortunate; her employer was incredibly supportive. As a recently qualified educator, looking for a position in the teaching profession has proven exceedingly challenging. Schools are currently operating under challenging conditions. I am keen to work at a school where I can learn from more experienced educators. I am not as optimistic about my skills and capabilities as I was during my qualification, but I remain positive about finding work.”
I asked her how she had managed to deal with the stress of caring for parents and searching for a job during a pandemic. “I meditate. I’m also working on an autoethnographic autobiography. I believe that writing will help me connect with my vision for my self-actualisation, to remain in touch with my purpose. I have tried to maintain a routine during the day.”
Bianca recommends that people struggling to come to terms with the pandemic write a daily reflection.
“Look for the people, situations and thinking patterns that come up. Meditate on this, observe your thoughts and watch them come and go. Pay attention to what happens during the day.”
She also feels it is important to connect with others.
“Connect with another person whom you can trust and share what comes up for you daily or whenever you feel called to. Whatever challenges you face are not going anywhere, but you have the power to determine the way in which you respond to the challenges you face. Face your fears as your own and then to allow a higher wisdom to guide you to take a step forward in life.”
On getting vaccinated, Bianca replied, “I am willing to be vaccinated. I understand the science behind the mRNA technology as well as the potential side-effects. I do not believe that there are any dubious or hidden agendas behind the release of the vaccine. I also believe that it cannot harm my brain or my physiology sufficiently for me to be afraid of experiencing my life differently in the long-term. The immediate benefit of reducing the risk of contracting and spreading the virus as well as being less likely to put strain on hospitals is worth it. I believe that putting public health before not wanting to feel sick for a few days is purposeful.”
Bianca’s lesson during the pandemic was resilience.
“The most major lessons I have learned from the past year is that my soul is resilient.”
What message did she want to convey to other Pagans?
“Intentionally being kind is the most powerful tool to bring joy, for both the giver and receiver. The greatest light is found when it is shone in the darkness. We need to go back to the simplest principles of being authentic in simple actions in private and public. Stay safe and take action to be there for those around you. If we do that we will find that there is a lot of value to be had in the midst of this pandemic.”
South Africa’s vaccination programme offers delayed hope of bringing an end to the pandemic in 2022. Only 1.36 million (2.3% of the population) citizens have been fully vaccinated; these included front-line medical personnel, teachers, and persons over the age of 60. As of July 13, the World Health Organization lists that 4,236,718 doses of the vaccine have been administered.
Until population immunity is achieved through mass vaccination, South Africans will undoubtedly face more lockdowns, successive waves of infection, and increased unemployment.
May we take heart by learning from the lessons of others. This too shall pass.
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